USA > New York > Saratoga County > History of Saratoga County, New York : with historical notes on its various towns > Part 84
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
father of the subject of this sketch. John Thomson was reared at Belfast, and received a classical education. He was made a ward and chancellor, was a man of great personal magnetism, always took an active and promi- nent part in English politics, and had a strong following in his native county. He was an advocate of the rights of man on the princi- ples of a broad humanity, and ever hoped for Irish liberty and independence. His labors of life were brought to a sudden close by ap- oplexy, when in the sixty-sixth year of his age. He married Ann Telford, and they had three children, two sons and one daughter, of whom John E. is the sole survivor.
John E. Thomson was reared in his native city, and completing the full course of Belfast academy, was afterward graduated from one of the leading institutions of learning in Ire- land, of which Gladstone, the great premier, is also a graduate. While attending school and during vacations Mr. Thomson learned the trade of jeweler, having served as appren- tice from seven to twenty-one years of age. His studies had been partly directed with the view of qualifying him to become a student of law, but the death of his father and lack of pecuniary means compelled him to give up his intended profession, and for a time turn his attention to his trade as a means of sup- port. Having thus determined as to his im- mediate course of action, he became a work- man in a representative jewelry establish- ment, where he remained in its department of fine and skilled labor for five years. At the end of that time, in 1873, he came to Me- chanicville, and established his present watch, diamond and jewelry establishment. Mr. Thomson is fully conversant with every de- tail of the manufacture and importation of his goods, and the requirements of the trade and the public. His stock is full, rich and rare, and his excellent and remunerative patronage extends over a considerable area of the coun- try surrounding Mechanicville.
John E. Thomson married Jemima Milliken,
who died in November, 1876, leaving two children: David John and Elizabeth M. M., wife of T. G. Kelly, who is prominent in busi- ness and social circles at Belfast, Ireland, and who has been serving for several years as aud- itor of the great Northern railroad of that country. On June 28, 1881, Mr. Thomson again married, wedding Helen Rogers, and by his second marriage has one child, a son, named George R.
But few men in Saratoga county are more active and earnest in whatever they undertake than John E. Thomson, to whom no labor is too hard or difficult that will result in good for his village or county. He is a member and present chancellor commander of Garfield Lodge, No. 216, Knights of Pythias, and a member and vestryman of the Episcopal church. Mr. Thomson is a republican of re- publicans, and an ardent supporter of the Republican party of to-day, believing implicitly in allegiance to the principles of the party of Lincoln, Garfield and Harrison. He was elected as justice of the peace for the town of Stillwater and served for several years. In 1881 he was appointed by President Arthur as postmaster at Mechanicville, which posi- tion he held for a considerable period. He has served as a delegate to several repub -. lican county conventions. Mr. Thomson has always been an active and successful worker in the cause of his party. He is especially qualified as a leader in political affairs. To ' his excellent education he has added years of careful reading and a thorough study of the leading issues of the day, while it has been his good fortune to have had a wide range of per- sonal observation of the political conditions of the people in two countries, under a lim- ited monarchy and a democratic republic.
J OHN S. KELSO, one of Waterford's energetic and leading business men, and the proprietor of the celebrated Waterford
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OF SARATOGA COUNTY.
Marble yard, was born at Waterford, Saratoga county, New York, January 8, 1838, and is a son of Alexander H. and Susan A. (Anthony) Kelso. He received his education in the pub- lic schools of his native town, and was a clerk for some time in his father's store. He then learned the trade of stone cutter at Leroy, Genesee county, this State, and in 1861 re- turned to Waterford, where he formed a part- nership with L. P. Lincoln, of Comstock's Landing, Washington county, to engage in the stone and marble business. They established a shop and yards, which they operated for eighteen months. At the end of that time Mr. Lincoln was thrown from a buggy and killed. Mr. Kelso then purchased his partner's inter- est of his heirs, enlarged the yards and has continued successfully in the marble business ever since. His establishment is on Third street, one door north of Broad. Mr. Kelso employs first-class workmen, turns out fine tombstones, monuments and memorials in polished granite or marble, and has a rapidly increasing business which is not limited to his own county, as he constantly receives orders from adjoining counties. He makes a spec- ialty of Vermont and Italian marbles, attends to all kinds of cemetery work, and is amply prepared to furnish anything required in mar- ble or granite, from an elegantly designed monument to an appropriate burial lot corner stone. A practical workman, and a man of good judgment and artistic taste, he has given satisfaction to the most critical of his many patrons. In addition to his marble business Mr. Kelso is interested in the granite trade of Vermont, being a member of the Wilson Gran- ite Company, who own and operate success- fully a large granite quarry at Barre, in the Green Mountain State. He is a member of Egbert Lodge, No. 56, Knights of Pythias of Cohoes; Waterford Lodge, Independent Or- der of Good Templars ; Order of Rechabites : and of Council No. 142, Royal Arcanum, of Lansingburg, this State. In politics' he is a prohibitionist, and has served two years as a
trustee of his village, of whose cemetery he was previously sexton for eight years. He is a consistent member of Grace Episcopal church, and a man of energy and standing, and has established a business interest that is a permanent source of credit and benefit to his village.
In 1860 Mr. Kelso married Emily L. Mc- Carthy, of Leroy, Genesee county. She died in 1863, and in December, 1864, Mr. Kelso wedded Caroline Kennedy, a daughter of Hi- ram Kennedy, of Aurora, Illinois. He has one child, a daughter, named Edna D.
John S. Kelso is of Scotch descent, and his paternal grandfather, Joseph Kelso, was born at or near Kelso, Scotland, and went to the north of Ireland, which he had to leave soon afterward on account of a political uprising. He came from Ireland to Washington county, this State, and subsequently settled at Balls- ton Spa, where he died at eighty-three years of age. He married and reared a family of nineteen children, all of whom are dead ex- cept the youngest, Joseph C., who is now a resident of Mechanicville. One of his sons, Alexander H. Kelso (father), was born at Cam- bridge, Washington county, and in 1821 came to Waterford, where he resided until his death, which occurred October 12, 1863, when he was in the fifty-seventh year of his age. He was engaged in the general mercantile business for many years, beside having been a successful contractor on the canal. He was a strong democrat, and at only nineteen years of age was appointed postmaster of Waterford, which position he held for nine years. Some years after retiring from the postoffice he was ap- pointed as surrogate of Saratoga county, but not caring for the office he declined to accept, and another was appointed in his place. He was a man of unusually fine memory. He married Susan A. Anthony, of Lansingburg, Rensselaer county. At the time of their mar- riage they were pronounced to be a remark- ably handsome couple. Mrs. Kelso died in 1847, when in the forty-first year of her age.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
M RS. ELLEN HARDIN WAL- WORTH is descended from good old Revolutionary stock, and distinguished al ke for her active interest in all matters pertain- ing to patriotism, popular education, autlior- ship, art, music and history. She was born at Jacksonville, Morgan county, Illinois, and is the eldest child of Col. John J. Hardin, who soon after his election to Congress returned home to assume command of a regiment of his compatriots in the Mexican war, and fell in the battle of Buena Vista, while gallantly leading his regiment in the midst of that memorable struggle. Her education, carefully supervised by her father until called away by his official duties at Washington, and later in Mexico, where he lost his life, was carried on at Jack- sonville academy until 1851, when Mrs. Hardin married for her second husband Chancellor Walworth, of New York, and Nelly Hardin, as she was then known, came with her mother and younger brothers, Martin D. and Lemuel, to this State to reside. On July 19, 1852, she married Mansfield Tracy Walworth, a well- known writer of fiction and the youngest son of her stepfather, the Chancellor. For many years the young couple resided with the Chan- cellor and his wife, in the family homestead where the parents both died. With a few absences Mrs. Ellen Hardin Walworth has passed her whole life since her marriage in this historic old home. She was left a widow in 1873, and to facilitate the education of her children she collected classes and engaged the best teachers to be had in Boston and New York to conduct special studies in music and art. These classes finally developed into a very successful boarding and day school, and she enlarged the old homestead for its accommodation, letting the house during the summer vacations for a family hotel, and build- ing herself a modest cottage on the grounds, which is still her summer home. While her school was in the height of its prosperity, severe illness visited the family, and her eld- est son, who had charge of the mathematical
department, died quite suddenly of acute bron- chitis. Mrs. Walworth's health was seriously affected by these afflictions, and she abandoned the responsibilities of her school to spend her winters in a milder climate.
When the call came in 1876 for funds to renovate Mount Vernon, the home of Wash- ington, and to collect women's work for the Centennial exposition, Mrs. Walworth took up the work of her mother, Mrs. Chancellor Walworth, who had been the first vice-presi- dent of the organization which purchased Mount Vernon, and issuing a call to the women of Saratoga county, she made a stir- ring address and a handsome sum was immedi- ately raised and forwarded to the Mount Vernon association. She also organized the women of the county into committees and through them collected a fine display of domestic and fancy articles for the Woman's pavillion in the great Centennial exposition at Philadelphia. For twelve years Mrs. Wal- worth was president of the Shakespeare society of Saratoga, one of the oldest and most active organizations of the kind in this country. She was also president for several years of the Art and Science Field club of Saratoga. The membership of these societies included many of the professional men - lawyers, doctors, clergymen and professors - of Saratoga. In 1880 Mrs. Walworth, with Mrs. James M. Andrews, sr., and Mrs. Mary Lee Hurd, was elected to serve on the board of education, and during the three years of their service these women, with the co- operation of some able men on the board, thoroughly reorganized the school system of Saratoga. The course of study was improved, a suitable recognition obtained for the study of American history, a new high school build- ing of artistic design and ample proportions was erected, and many other school houses enlarged and improved. Much attention was also given to the sanitary condition of the schools and to the welfare and instruction of the primary pupils. As one of the vice-
ELLEN HARDIN WALWORTH.
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OF SARATOGA COUNTY.
presidents of the society of Decorative art of New York city she established a successful branch of that society in Saratoga. As a valued trustee of the Saratoga Monument association she devoted herself for many years to the completion of the Saratoga monument and the erection of granite tablets which mark the site of several places of historic interest on the battle-field of Saratoga. Upon the last mentioned work, especially, she has, as chair- man of the committee on tablets, expended a vast amount of time and personal expense, and by her pen, not only in various periodical publications, but in her latest and most valu- able monograph on "The Saratoga Battle- fields and History of the Saratoga Monument Association," she has contributed effectively toward inciting an interest in the minds of the public. It is proper to say here that to her courtesy the publishers of this volume are indebted for the several views illustrating the "Interior of the Saratoga Monument," "General Schuyler transferring his command to General Gates," "Old Battle Well," and " Balcarras Redoubt." She with William L. Stone, secretary of the Saratoga Monument association, was a trusted lieutenant of the late Gov. Horatio Seymour, for so long a time president of that body ; and in his plans for the ultimate success of the designs of the association he always looked to her for advice and counsel. She has also been for several years chairman of the committee in charge of the monument.
While it is undoubtedly true that the par- ticipation of her own ancestors in the stirring events of the Revolution gives Mrs. Walworth a personal interest in commemorating the dar- ing deeds of those illustrious days, it is like- wise certain that much of her sacrifice in this direction is the result of pure patriotism and genuine love for her native land. Since 1876 Mrs. Walworth has been a member of the as- sociation for the Advacement of Science, and has taken an active part in the geological sec- tion, this historic side of science appealing
very strongly to her mind, which has so strong a bent in the direction of history. She has long been a life member of the American His- torical association, before which she read a paper on the value of national archives at the literary congress of the World's Fair auxil- iary, on July 12, 1893. At the same congress a paper by her on "Colonial Women " was read before the section devoted to colonial history. She is also a member of the Histor- ical society of New York, and of the associa- tion of American Authors. Since 1890 Mrs. Walworth's efforts have been untiring in her devotion to the interests of the Daughters of the American Revolution, of which society she was one of the three originators, and is now a vice president general. With all the enthu- siasm of her nature she threw herself into this patriotic movement, and to the accomplish- ment of its noble purposes much of her later years have been devoted. Her life has been one of active and unselfish devotion to duty, and to the development of those better attrib- utes of humanity which too often lie dormant for want of some electric touch to thrill them into activity. That her career has been suc- cessful is attested by the unanimous voice of a grateful people, who appreciate her abund- ant labors and regard with affection the com- pletely rounded character of one who has been able to add lustre to the already honored name she bears.
THEODORE ELIXMAN, a man of ex- cellent business qualifications and good financial ability, and who is now serving as the cashier of the well known Hudson River Pulp & Paper Company, of Corinth, is a son of William and Marie (Pekskamp) Elixam, and was born in Osnabruck, province of Han- over, Germany, September 15, 1846. His parents were natives of Osnabruck, where his father died in 1850, and where his mother, who was born there eighty years ago, still re- sides.
Theodore Elixman received his education
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
in the excellent public schools of Germany and the international commercial school, and then at fourteen years of age entered the office of Audri Bros., of his native place. He remained in their employ three years, and then in June, 1863, came to the United States, in quest of an ample field in which to carve out for himself a successful career in business life. After land- ing at New York he soon obtained a position as clerk and salesman in a mercantile house in Hoboken, where he assiduously employed himself during his leisure time from work in acquiring a knowledge of the civil institutions and the different lines of business of his adopted country. Thus he spent six years very profit- ably to himself, and having become quite pro- ficient with all the details of business in a large and successful mercantile establishment, he cast about for a field in which there was less competition and more opportunities than was afforded in the mighty business heart of the great new world. The realization of this de- sire came in an offer that he received from Corinth, and accordingly, on June 1, 1869, he came to the village, where he entered the office of the Hudson River Pulp & Paper Company. He rendered efficient service in all work that was assigned him, and was successively pro- moted from position to position until he was elected cashier, which office he has filled most creditably up to the present time.
On November 2, 1876, Mr. Elixman was united in marriage with Frances Dayton, a daughter of the late Rev. James Dayton, one of the most highly esteemed men and popular ministers that ever resided in Saratoga county ...
In politics Mr. Elixman is a republican. He is now a trustee of the school board, and while frequently solicited to become a candidate for a county office, yet has always declined to al- low the use of his name in relation to any pub- lic office with which political honors are con- nected. He is a Free and Accepted Mason, a member of St. John Chapter, Royal Arch Ma- sons, of Greenfield, and of Washington Com- mandery, No. 33, Knights Templar, Mr. Elix-
man is pleasant. and courteous of manner, ranks as one of Corinth's most substantial citi- zens, and by his honorable and correct. busi- ness methods has become extremely popular in his community.
č OHN W. HOWE, senior member of the prosperous clothing firm of Howe & Pal- mer, at Saratoga Springs, is a son of Thomas C. and Lurena (Betts) Howe, and was born September 8, 1849, in the town of Moreau, Saratoga county, New York. The Howes are English by descent, and were among the earli- est settlers of this county. Peter Howe, pa- ternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Ballston, but in later life removed to the town of Moreau, where he died at an advanced age. He was a farmer by occupation, and became quite prosperous. His wife was a Miss Burdick, and one of his sons was Thomas C. Howe (father), who was born in Saratoga county in 1820, and passed his entire life within the bounds of this county, dying here in 1879, in the fifty-ninth year of his age. In early life he learned the carpen- ter trade, and was proprietor of a sash and blind factory at South Glens Falls for six or seven years, but the greater part of his active life was devoted to agricultural pursuits .: He was a whig and republican in politics, and served as justice of the peace in the town of Moreau for a period of twenty years. For half a century he was a strict member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and married Lu- rena Betts, who has been a life-long member of the same church as her husband .. She is a native of the county, and at present resides with her son in the village of Saratoga Springs.
John W. Howe passed his boyhood in the town of Moreau and at South Glens Falls, this county, receiving a good practical educa- tion in the public schools, and soon after leav- ing school engaged in the general mercantile and grist mill business for himself at Forts- ville, this county. He early demonstrated the
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OF SARATOGA COUNTY.
possession of fine business ability, and suc- cessfully conducted his enterprises at Forts -. ville for ten or twelve years, being postmaster at that place for three terms, ending in 1882. In that year he resigned the position, and dis- posing of all his interests at. Fortsville, re- moved to Saratoga Springs, and accepted a position as manager and book-keeper in the office of the Saratoga Journal, a daily and weekly newspaper published by Col. D. F. Ritchie in this village. He held this position for five years, at the end of which time he as- sociated with others in forming a joint stock company to establish the daily and weekly Saratoga Union. Upon the organization of the company Mr. Howe became secretary and business manager of the paper, and continued to occupy these positions for nearly two years, when he formed a copartnership with Ervin Palmer, under the style of Howe & Palmer, and embarked in the clothing business at Sar- atoga Springs. The latter enterprise has been continued by these gentlemen ever since, and they have built up a large and prosperous business, handling all kinds of fine clothing, hats, caps and gentlemen's furnishing goods. Their store is located at No. 466 Broadway, where they have a building well adapted to the requirements of their trade, and where they carry one of the largest, finest and best stocks to be found in their line.
In 1878 Mr. Howe was united in marriage to Lucy A. Ryan, youngest daughter of George Ryan, of Fortsvllle, this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Howe have been born three daughters : Lizzie, Mabel J. and Ethel B.
,
Being thoroughly in accord with the prin- ciples and policy of the Republican party, Mr. Howe has always given that political or- ganization a steadfast support, and for years has been one of its acknowledged leaders in Saratoga county. He is now serving as pres- ident of the veterans' and citizens' league of this villege, which has a total membership of more than six hundred, and during the last presidential campaign he was chairman of the
Republican executive committee of Saratoga county. In politics, as in business matters, he is active, energetic, sagacious and far-see- ing, and wields a substantial influence on the local policy of the dominant political party of Saratoga county. Mr. Howe is also promi- nent in Odd Fellowship, being connected with the lodge at Saratoga Springs.
OHN H. HILL, proprietor of one of the finest general mercantile houses at Round Lake, this county, whose connection with the general merchandise business dates from 1877, is the second son of Samuel and Catharine (Simpson) Hill, and was born in the village of Waterford, this county, August 2, 1862. The family is of direct English descent, Samuel Hill (father) having been born in Bristol, Eng- land. He grew to manhood and received a good education in his native country. About 1848 he emigrated to Canada, settling at Mon- treal, where he remained some ten years, and then removed to the United States, locating at Waterford, Saratoga county, New York. In 1862 he enlisted in one of the New York regi- ments, and served in the army until the close of the civil war. After the war he engaged in farming and followed that occupation success- fully until within the last few years, when he retired from active life and is now living quietly on his farm in the town of Half Moon. Polit- ically he is a stanch republican, and in religion a member of the Episcopal church. He mar- ried Catharine Simpson, who is also of Eng- lish birth and education, and by this union had a family of five children, four sons and a daughter : William, John H., the subject of this sketch ; Mary E., Charles, and one other.
John H. Hill was reared in the village of Waterford, this county, and obtained a good practical education in the public schools of that place. At the early age of fifteen years he entered a mercantile establishment at Water- ford, as a clerk and salesman, and began his training in a pursuit which he has ever since
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
followed continuously. In 1892 Mr. Hill pur- chased the general store of C. R. Rulison at Round Lake, and removed to this village, where he met with almost instant success, and is now doing a safe, conservative business of about thirty thousand dollars a year. He is a man of energy and enterprise, and having begun his commercial career at the bottom of the ladder, is thoroughly acquainted with all the details of the business and personally superintends his growing trade, endeavoring to make every transaction entirely satisfactory and every customer a friend.
In 1890 Mr. Hill united in marriage with Clara E. Selch, youngest daughter of William Selch, a prosperous farmer of the town of Malta, this county. In politics Mr. Hill is an ardent republican, and takes considerable in- terest in party affairs. He is a member of the Baptist church, and is also prominent in the Masonic circles of this section, being a mem- ber of Franklin Lodge, No. 90, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; Warren Chapter, No. 23, Royal Arch Masons, of Ballston Spa; and Washington Commandery, No. 30, Knights Templar, of Saratoga Springs.
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